TNAG-1366-FCO40-1812-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 138

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2.

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there has not

principles from a number

before us

to

been welcome support for these number of quarters. The question today is to decide, having listened

criticism and advice whether we are prepared to proceed with the Second Reading of the Bill, doing so in the knowledge that we stick to the principles but

make sufficient, and in some cases substantial

amendments and deletions to take account of the

legitimate concerns which have been expressed.

elected

to

the

There is another reason why we need to proceed with this legislation at this time, before the new Council meets in the Autumn. We stand now at the

beginning of a process of constitutional change starting with the election of 24 Members

this

Council next September but although the process of Constitutional change has begun the responsibilities

of the Council as a whole will not change. Those

responsibilities, primarily the passing of all necessary legislation and the appropriation of funds for public purposes, are already defined. But, as the

Council acquires an

element,

responsibilities placed upon its individual members will indeed change, for those members will be directly

accountable to the community for the adequate and

proper fulfilment of their duties in the Council. It

is to ensure

ensure that the future members of this Council

have before them, when they take office, a statement of powers and protection they have,

have, so as to be able to meet their obligations and responsibilities to the

community, and so as to ensure that the community can be satisfied that its representatives have sufficient powers with which to protect not their own individual interests but those of the community they serve; that

why it is necessary now to set down in law a clear statement of those powers.